Software · head to head
Obsidian vs Notion Web Clipper
Obsidian
Software
A powerful knowledge base on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Obsidian sync is a paid add-on at $4 per month billed annually rather than part of the app; Notion Web Clipper web clipper available only for Chrome browser
- They diverge on capability: Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking, Notion Web Clipper covers Web clipping.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Obsidian and Notion Web Clipper actually diverge.
| Attribute | Obsidian | Notion Web Clipper |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web (Chrome), Mobile |
| Founded | 2020 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Obsidian
- Bidirectional linking
- Graph view visualization
- Markdown support
- Local file storage
- Plugin ecosystem
- Custom CSS themes
- Templates
- Search and tags
Only in Notion Web Clipper
- Web clipping
- Database integration
- Tag support
- Quick capture
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
- Safari support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Obsidian
- Local-first markdown note taking with no account requirednot Notion Web Clipper
- Linking notes into a personal knowledge graphnot Notion Web Clipper
- Syncing a vault across devices with end-to-end encryption on the paid add-onnot Notion Web Clipper
- Publishing a public site from a vaultnot Notion Web Clipper
- Extending the editor with community pluginsnot Notion Web Clipper
Notion Web Clipper
- Save web pages to Notion workspacenot Obsidian
- Organise and reference web contentnot Obsidian
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Obsidian
- Sync is a paid add-on at $4 per month billed annually rather than part of the app
- Publishing to the web is a further $8 per month per site
- Commercial use asks for a $50 per user per year licence, though the vendor states it is not required
- Collaboration is limited compared with a hosted notes tool, since the vault is local files first
Notion Web Clipper
- Web clipper available only for Chrome browser
- Mobile clipping limited to in-app functionality, not full web clipper
Pricing, plan by plan
Obsidian
Free- Obsidian Sync$4/month
- Sync notes across devices
- Obsidian Publish$8/month
- Turn notes into a website
Notion Web Clipper
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Notion Web Clipper review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Obsidian if
- You need bidirectional linking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want graph view visualization.
Choose Notion Web Clipper if
- You need web clipping.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web (Chrome), Mobile.
- You also want database integration.
Questions people ask
- Is Obsidian or Notion Web Clipper better?
- Neither clearly leads. Obsidian starts at Free and Notion Web Clipper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Obsidian or Notion Web Clipper?
- Obsidian starts at Free and Notion Web Clipper at Free.
- Does Obsidian or Notion Web Clipper run on more platforms?
- Obsidian runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Notion Web Clipper runs on Web (Chrome), Mobile.
- Can I use Obsidian for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Obsidian best used for?
- Obsidian is most often used for local-first markdown note taking with no account required, linking notes into a personal knowledge graph, syncing a vault across devices with end-to-end encryption on the paid add-on, publishing a public site from a vault. Of those, local-first markdown note taking with no account required and linking notes into a personal knowledge graph are not what Notion Web Clipper is typically brought in for.
- What can Obsidian do that Notion Web Clipper cannot?
- Obsidian covers Bidirectional linking, Graph view visualization, Markdown support, Local file storage. Notion Web Clipper covers Web clipping, Database integration, Tag support, Quick capture.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Obsidian: Is Obsidian free?
Yes. The core Obsidian application is 100% free for personal and commercial use with no limitations. You can use unlimited vaults and every core feature without payment.
SourceObsidian: What file format does Obsidian use?
Obsidian stores every note as a plain Markdown file. Because it uses standard Markdown instead of a proprietary format, your notes remain portable and can be edited with many other Markdown editors.
SourceObsidian: Can I collaborate with others in Obsidian?
The core application does not include built-in team collaboration features. However, Obsidian offers optional add-ons and can be used with version control systems or cloud storage for collaboration.
Source